by Carrie Johnson
Repairs to a drainage system will require the closure of a section of State Highway 289 between Horseshoe Bend and Glencoe, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, AHTD, officials. The closure will begin on Monday, October 10 at 8 a.m.
The work will require closure of 289 between State Highway 354 and U.S. Highway 62. Motorists traveling on 289 will follow a detour. This is the most direct route to 62 from Horseshoe Bend, so allow yourself plenty of extra time for traveling.
Routes around the roadwork that include only highway are Highway 354 to Oxford, then right on Highway 9 to Salem or left on 9 to Melbourne; or 289 to Peace Valley Road, then left on Highway 167 to Ash Flat or right on 167 to Batesville. Local traffic should consider alternate routes between 354 and 62, also known as dirtroads.
There will be warning signs at the Glencoe turn off 62 and at the four-way in Horseshoe Bend alerting drivers of the roadwork ahead. A barricade will be in place at Morriston Fire Department.
All students that ride the bus that live beyond the closure will be picked up at Hillbilly U-Pump in Glencoe at 7:30 a.m. and dropped off at approximately 3:20 p.m. For those that are still unaware of where the line is drawn, if your child is usually picked up at The Quilted Heart and beyond (towards Horseshoe Bend), expect to have to find a different route. Your child’s bus and bus driver will remain the same; all parents of affected students should have received a letter from the Salem School District Superintendent Wayne Guiltner notifying route changes.
The closure will conclude on Friday, October 21 at 5 p.m., weather permitting. The District Maintenance Crew will finish the section of 289 that lacks super pave when the repair is complete. Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through all highway work zones. Additional travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com.